Container filling apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and methods are provided for controlling flow of a flowable material. The flowable material passes from a product supply through one or more valves which are coupled to a controller. The controller is also coupled to one or more sensors operable to generate a signal indicating whether flowable product is present or not present at a specific level within a container. The controller is programmed to operate the valves based on signals received from the sensors. The sensors may be associated with the feed container and used to control metering of flowable product out of the feed container, or they may be associated with a container and used to control filling of the container with flowable product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to container filling systems and moreparticularly to container filling systems which determine a containerfill level based on direct sensing of products being filled.

Flowable products, particularly products in liquid form are stored,transported, and sold in containers such as bottles and cans. In a smallto mass-production environment large numbers of such containers arefilled with a known amount of liquid product by filling machinesdedicated to that purpose.

Known container filling machinery typically meters the amount of productfor a specific container by either weight or volume prior to thecontainer actually being filled. Prior art machinery thus does not usethe dynamics of the material being filled to aid in or to be an activeparticipant in the filling process of a container. Furthermore, priorart machinery that meters by weight does not guarantee that a containeris filled to proper or desired volume fill level (it could be fooled byforeign objects).

This metering is performed by devices such as gear pumps, diaphragmpumps, piston pumps, peristaltic pumps, flow meters, worm gear, lobegear pumps, etc. This is an extremely expensive procedure due in part tothe cost involved in the pumps, which need to be extremely accurate andreproducible. These pieces of equipment as well as the related flowmeters require a further array of very expensive control electronics andequipment.

These systems are also very difficult to clean because of all theintricate pump parts and piping that is required to allow the system tofunction properly. Another drawback is the sensitivity of these fillingmachines to viscosity of the product and the temperature of the productand pressure used to fill the product as well as the composition of theproduct.

Another drawback to these devices is their inability to pump and meteraccurately and continuously materials that contain particulate matterwithin the formula such as pumice in a hand soap. This type of materialusually destroys the pump's ability to meter, and causes wear on gearpumps, piston pumps, peristaltic pumps, worm gear pumps, lobe gearpumps, etc.

Accordingly, there is a need for a container filing apparatus which issimple in operation and tolerant to various materials.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This need is addressed by the present invention, which provides acontainer filling apparatus and process in which the material beingfilled in a container is a participatory part of the dynamic fillingprocess.

According to one aspect of the invention, a method of filling acontainer with a flowable product includes: flowing a first flowableproduct from a product supply through a valve and a nozzle into thecontainer while the container is carried on a support; using a firstsensor to determine when the flowable product has reached a firstpredetermined fill level within the container, and to generate a firstfilled signal indicative thereof; and based on the first filled signalfrom the first sensor, closing the valve so as to stop the flow of thefirst flowable product.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of filling acontainer with a flowable product includes: providing at least oneproduct supply comprising at least one feed container containing aflowable product, coupled to a valve and a nozzle; providing at leastone support for a container; providing two or more sensors disposed inpreselected positions corresponding to different fill levels of flowableproduct within the container, wherein each sensor is operable togenerate a filled signal in response to flowable product reaching one ofthe fill levels within the container; flowing a flowable product fromthe at least one product supply through the corresponding valve andnozzle into the container, while the container is carried by the atleast one support; using each sensor to generate a filled signal asflowable product reaches a fill level corresponding to that sensor, andin response to each filled signal, either: (a) operating thecorresponding valve so as to change the flowrate of the flowable productcurrently flowing into the container; or (b) operating the correspondingvalve to stop the flow of the flowable product and flowing a differentflowable product from the at least one product supply through thecorresponding valve and nozzle into the container, while the containeris carried by the at least one support.

According to another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for filling acontainer with a flowable product includes: a product supply operable tocreate a flow of the flowable product; a nozzle; a valve coupled betweenthe product supply and the nozzle; a sensor mounted in a preselectedposition relative to the apparatus, the sensor operable to generate afilled signal in response to the product reaching a predetermined filllevel within the container; and a controller operably coupled to thesensor, wherein the controller is operable to operate the valve inresponse to the filled signal.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of metering aflowable product from a feed container includes: providing a productsupply comprising a feed container containing a flowable product,coupled to a valve; providing a sensor disposed in a positioncorresponding to a selected fill level of flowable product within thefeed container, wherein the sensor is operable to generate a signalindicating that the flowable product is either present or not present atthe selected fill level; flowing a flowable product from the feedcontainer through the valve; and in response to a signal from the sensorindicating that the flowable product is not present, closing the valveto stop the flow of the flowable product.

According to another aspect of the invention, apparatus for metering aflowable product from a feed container, includes: a product supplycomprising a feed container, coupled to a valve; a sensor disposed in aposition corresponding to a selected fill level of flowable productwithin the feed container, wherein the sensor is operable to generate asignal indicating that the flowable product is either present or notpresent at the selected fill level; and a controller operably coupled tothe sensor, wherein the controller is programmed to close the valve tostop the flow of the flowable product in response to a signal from thesensor indicating that the flowable product is not present.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be best understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figuresin which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a filling apparatus constructed in accordancewith an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the filling apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an articulated sensor arm for use with thefilling apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4-6 are sequential schematic side views of a nozzle and acontainer during a first type of filling sequence;

FIGS. 7-9 are sequential schematic side views of a nozzle and acontainer during a second type of filling sequence;

FIGS. 10-11 are sequential schematic side views of a nozzle and acontainer during a third type of filling sequence;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a metering apparatus constructed in accordancewith an aspect of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a side view of a metering apparatus incorporating analternative sensor assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denotethe same elements throughout the various views, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustratean exemplary filling apparatus 10 constructed according to the presentinvention and used to fill a container “C” with a flowable product. Asused herein the term “flowable product” refers to any substance which iscapable of deforming under shear stress and flowing, such as granularmaterials, particulates, powders, liquids, and gases. The basiccomponents of the apparatus 10 are a supply 12 of a flowable product“P”, a fill valve assembly 14, a nozzle 16, a product level sensor 18,and a controller 20. Each of these components is described in moredetail below.

The supply 12 is configured so that it is operable to cause the productP to flow from the point where it is stored to the nozzle 16.Nonlimiting examples of means for causing flow include pumps, gaspressurization, mechanical feeders such as augers, or gravity flow. Theflowable product can be low or high viscosity, or a gel, and can containsolids or abrasives. In the illustrated example, the supply 12 includesat least one feed container 22 housing a flowable product P, coupled toa pneumatically-operated diaphragm pump 24 of a known type by an intakeline 26. If desired, multiple containers (not shown) may be coupled tothe pump 24, for example where the container C is to be filled with amixture of two or more products. A compressed air source “A” isconnected to the pump 24. A feed line 28 runs from the pump 24 to amanifold 30 which is mounted to a stationary support frame 32. Themanifold 30 includes several outlets 34, each with an isolation valve36. For simplicity of description, only one fill valve assembly 14 andnozzle 16 is shown, however it will be understood that any number offill valve assemblies 14 and nozzles 16 may be connected to the manifold30 so as to create multiple filling “stations”.

A line 38 runs from the isolation valve 36 to a metering valve 40. Themetering valve 40 is an optional component, and if used, may be of atype suitable to throttle the flow to the fill valve apparatus 14 asdesired.

The fill valve assembly 14 includes a fill valve 42 connected betweenmetering valve 40 and the nozzle 16. The fill valve 42 is functional toselectively permit flow from the supply 12 to the nozzle 16 or to closeoff or otherwise operate, i.e. adjust as necessary that flow, inresponse to commands from the controller 20.

In the illustrated example, the fill valve 42 is a pneumaticallyoperated “pinch valve” of a known type in which introduction ofcompressed air causes an internal conduit to clamp down or “pinch” offthe flow of product P. Such valves are available from Schubert & Salzer,Inc., Concord, N.C. 28027 USA. The fill valve 42 opens when the airsupply is cut off.

In the illustrated example, a solenoid 44 is connected between the fillvalve 42 and the compressed air source A. The solenoid 44 is connectedto the controller 20, for example by a cable 46, and is operable eitherto permit compressed air flow to the fill valve 42 or to blockcompressed air flow, in response to the controller 20 or to bemanipulated as necessary. While a pinch valve and separate solenoid areused in this example, it will be understood that any type of fill valve(e.g. pinch valve, ball valve, gate valve, rotor valve, butterfly valve,electric valve, pneumatic valve, hydraulic valve, shut-off mechanism,diverting mechanism, etc.) and actuator combination may be used so longas it is operable to selectively permit flow from the supply 12 to thenozzle 16 or to close off or adjust as necessary that flow, in responseto commands from the controller 20. In some cases, the fill valve 42 mayincorporate an actuator into its structure such that the separatesolenoid 44 may not be required.

The nozzle 16 is connected to the downstream end of the fill valve 42.Any type of nozzle effective to form a desired fluid stream or spraypattern may be used. The nozzle 16 may be configured to physicallyengage the opening in the container C, to be placed through the openingand into the interior of the container C, or simply to be placed in thevicinity of the opening in the container C. In some filling processes,described in more detail below, it is desirable that the nozzle 16 takethe form of an elongated tube which extends into the container C duringfilling.

The product level sensor 18 may be any device operable to determine whenthe level of the product P in the container C has reached apredetermined fill level. The sensor 18 need only generate a simplebinary signal indicating that product is either present or not presentwithin the threshold of the sensor's range. Nonlimiting examples ofsensor operational principles include inductance, capacitance, light,sound, heat, air temperature, colorimeter, pH, and nuclear. In theillustrated example, the sensor 18 is a capacitance-type sensor of aknown type, which is particularly useful because it is suitable for mostcontainer materials, including opaque or transparent containers. Sensorsof this type are available from Balluff Inc., Florence, Ky. 41042 USA.The sensor 18 is operably coupled to the controller 20, for example bycable 48. This connection can be wired or wireless.

In the illustrated example, the sensor 18 is mounted by a bracket 50 sothat its tip is the proper physical relationship to the container C whenthe predetermined fill level is reached.

Other methods may be used to mount the sensor 18. For example, FIG. 3illustrates an optional articulated arm 52 comprising a pivoting base54, which would be mounted to a supporting structure. The base 54 ispivotable in at least one plane as shown by the arrows. Extending fromthe base 54 are several arms (56, 58, and 60), interconnected byclamp-type cross-connectors 62. The last arm 60 carries a holder 64which in turn carries the sensor 18. The cross-connectors 62 can beloosened and then slide or pivot relative to the arms 56, 58, or 60 asneeded.

A conveyor 66 of a known type (such as a belt or roller conveyor,powered or non-powered) is mounted underneath the nozzle 16 and isconfigured to position a container C with its mouth “M” under the nozzle16. In the illustrated example, the conveyor 66 includes side rails 68which align the container C.

The controller 20 may be mounted to the support frame 46. The controller20 is programmed to open the fill valve 42 in response to an externalcommand, and is programmed to close the fill valve 42 in response to thesensor 18. Any device capable of performing this function may be used asthe controller, for example a programmable logic controller (“PLC”) or aconventional microcomputer (sometimes referred to as a personal computeror “PC”). A single multi-channel controller may be used to controlseveral fill valves 46. In the particular example shown the controller20 is a PLC.

Means are provided for triggering the controller 20 to open the fillvalve 42. Any type of manual or automatic switch or sensor may be usedfor this purpose, as required by the specific application. In theillustrated example, a foot switch 70 is connected to the controller 20with a cable 72.

In operation, the container C is positioned under the nozzle 16. Thiscould be done manually or by moving the container C into position withthe conveyor 66. In response to input from the foot switch 70, thecontroller 20 commands the solenoid 44 to open the fill valve 42.Product P will then flow from the supply 12 through the open fill valve42 and the nozzle 16 into the container C.

When the product P reaches the predetermined fill level, the output ofthe sensor 18 will constitute a signal indicative of this fact, referredto herein as a “filled signal”. When the controller 20 determines thatthe fluid level has reached a predetermined fill level, based on thefilled signal from the sensor 18, the controller 20 causes the solenoid44 to close the fill valve 42, stopping the flow of product P. Thefilling apparatus 10 is then ready to fill another container C. Thepredetermined fill level is independent from factors such as producttemperature, density, viscosity, pressure, compressibility, particulatecontent, and the like.

A properly filled container C can be used to calibrate the fillingapparatus 10. This would be accomplished by first placing the properlyfilled container C underneath the nozzle 16. Then the filling apparatus10 is adjusted so that the fill valve 42 just closes. Depending on theexact type of sensor 18 and controller 20 used, the specific adjustmentmay be a function of the sensor 18, for example a mechanical sensitivityor position adjustment, and/or adjustment of the controller 20, forexample an input gain adjustment.

The basic principles described above can be applied to many differentfilling equipment configurations.

For example, FIGS. 4-6 illustrate a process in which a nozzle movesrelative to the container C before and after the filling step, but arestationary to each other during filling. A nozzle 116 (which may beelongated) has a sensor 118 mounted to it by a bracket 150. A containerC is carried on a support 166. The support 166 could be any type ofmoving or stationary mechanism. In FIG. 4, the nozzle 116 is outside thecontainer C and the container C and nozzle 116 are moving relativelytowards each other. This relative motion could be a result of the nozzle116 plunging downward, the container C being lifted by the support 166,or a combination of the two. In FIG. 5, the nozzle 116 is inserted intothe container C and the sensor 118 is in the proper position to detectthe required fill level in the container C. The product P is at therequired fill level and at this moment the nozzle 116 and the containerC are stationary with respect to each other. In FIG. 6, filling has beencompleted and the nozzle 116 and the container C are moving relativelyaway from each other. This type of nozzle/container relative motion maybe found, for example, in semi-automatic or fully automatic fillingmachines as well as rotary filling machines and “walking beam” fillingmachines, as described below.

As another example, FIGS. 7-9 illustrate a process in which a nozzlemoves relative to the container C during the filling step. A nozzle 216(which may be elongated) is provided. A container C is carried on asupport 266 similar to the support 160 described above. A sensor 218 ismounted to the support by a bracket 250. In FIG. 7, the nozzle 216 isinside the container C, and the container C and nozzle 216 are movingrelatively away from each other as product P fills the container C. Thisrelative motion could be a result of the nozzle 216 lifting upward, thecontainer C being lowered by the support 266, or a combination of thetwo. In FIG. 8, the nozzle 216 is partially lifted upwards relative tothe container C and the product P has reached a higher level. The sensor218 is in the proper position to detect the required fill level in thecontainer C. In FIG. 9, filling has been completed and the nozzle 216 iscompletely withdrawn from the container C. Because the sensor 218 isstationary relative to the container C, it is always in the properposition to determine when the required fill level has been reachedregardless of the relative motion between the nozzle 216 and thecontainer C. This type of nozzle/container relative motion may be found,for example, in in-line filling machines and rotary filling machines, asdescribed below.

It is possible to use more than one sensor. This may be desired,example, where a container C is to be filled at two or more differentrates, or where two or more different materials are to be loaded intothe container C in sequence. FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate such a process.One or more nozzles 316 are provided. A container C is carried on asupport 366 similar to the support 160 described above. First and secondsensors 318 and 319 are mounted to the support by a bracket 350, at twodifferent levels “L1” and “L2” relative to the container C. In FIG. 10,the container C is being filled and the product P has not reached levelsL1 or L2. In FIG. 11, the product has reached level L1, triggering thesensor 318 to generate a filled signal. Once the sensor 318 istriggered, the filling process continues in a second phase, for exampleby filling the product P at a different rate, by filling with a second,different product from the same nozzle 316, or by filling with a secondproduct from a different nozzle moved into place over the container C.When the product P (or combination of products) has reached the secondlevel L2, triggering the sensor 319 to generate another filled signal,the filling process stops as described above. Multiple sensors may beprovided at various fill levels, and the fill process can includechanging the product flowrate or changing the product each time one ofthe sensors is triggered.

Rotary filling machines are the fastest known architecture, because theyeasily allow for fast, continuous motion of containers. A rotary fillingmachine comprises a plurality of filling stations, arranged around thecircumference of a revolving rotor. Each filling station includes afilling device typically having a nozzle and a container-holding devicefor securely holding and aligning each container as the containersrotate with the rotor during the filling process. Each nozzle isconnected to a hose. The other end of the hose is connected to a productreservoir(s). A conveyor transfers empty containers to an input spindlewhich synchronously feeds each successive empty container to a fillingstation. As each container travels around the filling zone with therotor, the container is filled with product by the filling device. Oncethe container is filled, it has rotated to an output spindle whichremoves the container from the filling station and feeds the filledcontainer back to the conveyor. Another section of the conveyor may thentransport the filled containers to a capping/lidding machine labelingmachine and/or a packing station. Examples of several rotary fillingmachines are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,761,191 and 6,474,368.

In-line filling systems are characterized by the motion of thecontainers in a generally straight line through the product fillingarea. There are many types of in-line filling systems but they can bebroken down into two types of motion, namely intermittent motion andcontinuous motion. In the intermittent motion designs, a group of emptycontainers are serially conveyed or indexed into a plurality of fillingstations. The containers are then completely filled while they remainfixed and motionless. Once these groups of containers are filled, anindexing mechanism transports the filled group of containers out of thefilling area and another group of empty containers are conveyed into theposition of the filling stations. In order to increase the throughput ofthis type of in-line filling system, various derivative designs havebeen devised to increase the throughput. These include the multipleparallel lanes and nozzle design, the dead plate pushover design, theshifting nozzle design, and the parallel lane/staggered nozzle design.Each of these designs is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,796,

It is also known to have an in-line filling system which provides forcontinuous motion of the containers. One such design is the walking beamdesign. The walking beam filling system comprises a conveyor whichtransports containers to and from the liquid filling zone. Thecontainers move continuously in a straight line along the conveyor. Abank of nozzles are mounted to a beam. The nozzles are spaced apart suchthat each nozzle will align with the opening of the same number ofcontainers as the containers travel through the filling zone. The beamis affixed to a motorized beam mechanism which moves the bank of nozzleslaterally back and forth and vertically along the same line as thecontainers on the conveyor. The motorized beam mechanism moves the beamand the bank of nozzles in the direction synchronously with the movementof a group of containers as the containers are filled by the nozzles.

The motorized beam mechanism then returns the beam and nozzles back inthe direction at a rate of speed substantially greater than the speed ofthe conveyor. A filling cycle begins when the beam is accelerated fromrest at an initiation point to match the speed of the movement of thecontinuously moving containers on the conveyor and the nozzles arepositioned over the openings in the containers. The nozzles are thenlowered into the empty containers entering the filling zone from aninput side of the conveyor. The containers are filled with product whilethe beam, nozzles and containers continue to move synchronously alongwith the conveyor. Upon completion of the filling, the nozzles areretracted from the containers and the beam is stopped and reversed. Thebeam moves at a very rapid speed back toward the input side of theconveyor and stops at its initiation point.

In addition to being compatible with different types of filling machinearchitectures, the principles of the present invention as describedabove are compatible with many known filling techniques, some of whichare summarized as follows:

Bottom-up filling: Used for foamy products, or to reduce splashing,nozzles are lowered to the bottom of the container C before filling andthen rise just above the liquid as the container C is being filled.

Locate Filling: Used for non-foamy products; nozzles are located intothe neck of the container C, the product fills, and then the nozzles arepulled out. Higher production rates can typically be achieved using thismethod.

Static Filling: This filling technique is typically used for fillingmachines with no nozzle movement. Many semi-automatic or fully automaticfilling machines use this type of filling.

Profile Filling: Using servomotor technology allows the speed of thefilling process inside the container C to vary. For instance, theproduct may require filling at a fast speed for the first half of thefill and then slowing down for the second half of the fill.

Flammable/Hazardous Material Filling: Any product that is flammable orhazardous, i.e. defined as those liquids with a flashpoint of 38° C.(100° F.) or less, needs to be filled using an intrinsically-safemachine to assure that the filling process is safe for those workingnearby.

Hot Fill: This technique is used with products that must be heated andfilled at elevated temperatures. Some products such as sauces,condiments, and food ingredients may need to maintain an elevatedtemperature during the filling process in order to assure a sanitaryenvironment of the closed container C; others like deodorants, candles,lipstick, and mascara use the hot fill technique since the product iseither too thick or a solid at room temperature, and therefore, unableto flow through the pumps.

It is also possible to use one or more sensors to control a flowableproduct metering process. For example, FIG. 12 shows a meteringapparatus 500, used to meter a flow of flowable product from a feedcontainer. The basic components of the apparatus 500 are a supply 512 ofa flowable product P as described above, a metering valve assembly 514,one or more product level sensors 518, and a controller 520. Each ofthese components is described in more detail below.

The supply 512 is configured so that it is operable to cause theflowable product P to flow from the point where it is stored to themetering valve 512. Nonlimiting examples of means for causing flowinclude pumps, gas pressurization, mechanical feeders such as augers, orgravity flow. In the illustrated example, the supply 512 includes atleast one feed container 522 housing the flowable product P, coupled toa pump 524 by an intake line 526. A feed line 528 runs from the pump 524to the metering valve assembly 514.

The metering valve assembly 14 is connected by a discharge line 530 to areceiver “R”. The receiver R may be any container, apparatus, or processthat requires metered amounts of the flowable product P. For example,the receiver R could be a washing machine, mixer, compounder, coater, orother similar device.

The metering valve assembly 514 is functional to selectively permit flowfrom the supply 512 to the discharge line 530 or to close off that flow,in response to commands from the controller 520.

In the illustrated example, the metering valve assembly 514 includes ametering valve 542. The metering valve 542 is a pneumatically operated“pinch valve” identical to valve 42 described above, and a solenoid 544is connected between the fill valve 542 and the compressed air source A.The solenoid 544 is connected to the controller 520, for example by acable 546, and is operable either to permit compressed air flow to thefill valve 542 or to block compressed air flow, in response to thecontroller 520 or to be manipulated as necessary. All of the alternativeconfigurations described above for the fill valve assembly 14 areequally applicable to the metering valve assembly 514.

An array of product level sensors (referred to generally at 518) aremounted by a bracket 550 so that their tips are in the proper physicalrelationship to the feed container 522. Each sensor 518 corresponds to aspecific fill level of the feed container 522. In the illustratedexample, there are 10 equally-spaced sensors 518, and for reference, thesensors 518 are labeled 518-1 through 518-10. The spacing betweensensors 518 can be set so that it corresponds to a specific increment ofproduct volume.

Each product level sensor 518 may be any device operable to determinewhen the level of the product P in the feed container 522 is at apredetermined fill level. The sensor 518 need only generate a simplebinary signal indicating that product is either present or not presentwithin the threshold of the sensor's range. Nonlimiting examples ofsensor operational principles include inductance, capacitance, light,sound, heat, air temperature, colorimeter, pH, and nuclear. In theillustrated example, the sensors 518 are capacitance-type sensorsidentical to the sensors 18 described above. Each sensor 518 is operablycoupled to the controller 520, for example by cables 548. Thisconnection can be wired or wireless.

Operation of the metering apparatus begins with product P at a knownlevel in the feed container 522. For example, as seen in FIG. 12, theproduct P is approximately at the level of the ninth sensor 518-9, andall of the sensors 518 below the ninth sensor 518-9 would generate asignal indicating “present”. In response to input from a foot switch 570or other suitable trigger, the controller 520 commands the solenoid 544to open the metering valve 542. Product P will then flow from the supply512 through the open metering valve 542 into the receiver R.

As the product P leaves the feed container 522, each sensor 518 willchange state sequentially. For example, when the product falls below thetrigger range of the eighth sensor 518-8, its signal will change from“present” to “not present”.

The controller 520 is programmed to stop the fill process when selectedsensors 518 have changed signal state from “present” to “not present”.When the selected sensors 518 have changed state, the controller 520causes the solenoid 544 to close the fill valve 542, stopping the flowof product P. The metering apparatus 500 is then ready for anothermetering cycle.

The controller 520 may be programmed to simply count how many sensors518 have changed state, or it may track independent inputs. For example,if the feed container 522 is to be emptied from sensor 518-9 to sensor518-6, the controller 520 could be programmed to either count that threesensors 518 have changed state, or it could be programmed to identifythat “not present” signals have been received from each of sensors518-8, 518-7, and 518-6. Any number of sensors 518 can constitute ametering cycle, and the number can be different each time.

FIG. 13 illustrates another metering apparatus 500′ generally identicalto the metering apparatus 522 described above, having a feed container522′, metering valve 542′, controller 520′, and receiver R′. Theapparatus 522′ has an alternative sensor configuration. A single sensor518′ (identical to the sensors 518 described above) is mounted to anupright elongated bracket 550′ by a moveable holder 552. The meteringapparatus 522′ is operated by first moving the holder 552 to set thesensor 518′ at a desired level below the current level of flowableproduct P in the feed container 522′. In response to input from a footswitch 570′ or other suitable trigger, the controller 520′ opens themetering valve 542′. Product P will then flow from the feed container522′ through the open metering valve 542′ into the receiver R′. Thecontroller 520′ is programmed to close the metering valve 542′ and stopthe fill process when the sensor 518′ changes signal state from“present” to “not present”. The volume of product P discharged dependson the distance “D” from the starting level of the product P to theposition of the sensor 518′. This distance D can be set however neededfor a particular metering cycle.

The apparatus and method described above have several advantages overthe prior art. It allows for materials with particulate matter to befilled. Its operation allows viscosity changes due in part totemperature, pressure or batch-to-batch variation. The filling apparatus10 can fill containers C with a wide range of liquid viscosities,meaning anything that can be made to flow can be measured. Nonlimitingexamples of liquids that can be filled using the apparatus includesulfuric acid (0.2 centipoise, water-thin and free flowing) to maplesyrup (144 centipoise, semi-viscous) to tomato paste (190,000 centipoiseand extremely viscous). The filling apparatus 10 is streamlined and canbe easily setup and cleaned-up with minimal product waste. It allows fora quick change over of different size bottles, containers, pouches, etc.and quick product changeovers. Neither the filling apparatus 10 nor themetering apparatus 500 requires expensive metering pumps, or complicatedhoses and electronics. Also, they can simplify rotary systems, byeliminating the need for mechanical, manual or electrical filled timing.

The foregoing has described a container filling apparatus and method.While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described,it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for filling containers with aflowable product, the apparatus comprising: (a) a product supplyoperable to create a flow of the flowable product; (b) a manifold; (c) aflow pathway along which the flowable product flows from the productsupply to the manifold; (d) a plurality of filling stations at whichcontainers are filled with the flowable product, each filling stationcomprising, (i) a fill valve assembly connected to the manifold by aflow pathway along which the flowable product flows from the manifold tothe fill valve assembly, the fill valve assembly comprising a fill valveand a nozzle connected to a downstream end of the fill valve andconfigured to direct, during a filling operation, the flowable productinto a container located beneath the nozzle; and (ii) a capacitivesensor mounted in a preselected position relative to the apparatus andconfigured such that, during a filling operation, the capacitive sensoris operable (A) to sense, through the container, when the flowableproduct reaches a predetermined fill level within the container, and (B)to generate a signal in response to the sensing of the flowable productreaching the predetermined fill level within the container, (C) whereinthe predetermined fill level corresponds to the threshold of thecapacitive sensor's range for first sensing the flowable product withinthe container, (D) wherein the sensor is disposed outside the containerand does not physically contact the flowable product or the containerduring the filling operation, and (E) wherein the positioning of thecapacitive sensor is adjustable prior to the filling operation, wherebydifferent predetermined fill levels within a container can be selected,and whereby different container configurations can be filled to apredetermined fill level at the filling station, by adjusting thepositioning of the capacitive sensor; and (e) a controller operablycoupled to each respective capacitive sensor at the filling stations,wherein the controller is configured to independently operate the fillvalve at each respective filling station in response to receiving thegenerated signal from the capacitive sensor at such filling station soas to close the fill valve and stop flow of the flowable product into acontainer at such filling station.
 2. The apparatus for fillingcontainers with a flowable product of claim 1, wherein the flowableproduct contains an abrasive.
 3. The apparatus for filling containerswith a flowable product of claim 1 further comprising a supportconfigured to carry containers, and wherein at each filling station thenozzle and the support are configured to move relative to each other. 4.The apparatus for filling containers with a flowable product of claim 3,wherein at each filling station the sensor is configured in a fixedposition relative to the support during a filling operation.
 5. Theapparatus for filling containers with a flowable product of claim 1,wherein at each filling station the sensor is configured in a fixedposition relative to the nozzle during a filling operation.
 6. Theapparatus for filling containers with a flowable product of claim 1,wherein at each filling station the fill valve comprises a pinch valve.7. The apparatus for filling containers with a flowable product of claim1, wherein the product supply comprises at least one feed container anda pump.
 8. The apparatus for filling containers with a flowable productof claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a programmable logiccontroller.
 9. The apparatus for filling containers with a flowableproduct of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to fillcontainers with a gel comprising abrasives.
 10. The apparatus forfilling containers with a flowable product of claim 1, wherein theapparatus is configured to fill containers with a hand soap comprisingpumice.
 11. The apparatus for filling containers with a flowable productof claim 1, wherein at each filling station the capacitive sensor isconfigured to be positioned above a container during a fillingoperation.
 12. The apparatus for filling containers with a flowableproduct of claim 1, wherein at each filling station the capacitivesensor is configured to be positioned above a shoulder of a container,but below a mouth of the container, during a filling operation.
 13. Theapparatus for filling containers with a flowable product of claim 1,wherein at each filling station the capacitive sensor is configured tobe positioned proximate a shoulder of a container during a fillingoperation.
 14. The apparatus for filling containers with a flowableproduct of claim 1, further comprising, at each filling station, abracket on which the capacitive sensor is mounted, the capacitive sensorbeing mountable to the bracket in a manually adjustable manner to effectmanual adjustment of the positioning of the capacitive sensor relativeto the apparatus prior to a filling operation.
 15. The apparatus forfilling containers with a flowable product of claim 1, wherein at eachfilling station the capacitive sensor is elongate and includes a distaltip directed toward, and positioned above the top of, a container beingfilled during a filling operation.
 16. The apparatus for fillingcontainers with a flowable product of claim 1, wherein at each fillingstation the capacitive sensor is elongate and includes a distal tipdirected toward, and positioned above a shoulder but below a mouth of, acontainer being filled during a filling operation.
 17. The apparatus forfilling containers with a flowable product of claim 1, wherein at eachfilling station the capacitive sensor is elongate and includes a distaltip directed toward, and positioned proximate a shoulder of, a containerbeing filled during a filling operation.
 18. An apparatus for fillingcontainers with a flowable product, the apparatus comprising: (a) aproduct supply operable to create a flow of the flowable product; (b) amanifold; (c) a flow pathway along which the flowable product flows fromthe product supply to the manifold; (d) a plurality of filling stationsat which containers are filled with the flowable product, each fillingstation comprising, (i) a fill valve assembly connected to the manifoldby a flow pathway along which the flowable product flows from themanifold to the fill valve assembly, the fill valve assembly comprisinga fill valve and a nozzle connected to a downstream end of the fillvalve and configured to direct, during a filling operation, the flowableproduct into a container located beneath the nozzle; and (ii) acapacitive sensor mounted in a preselected position and configured suchthat, during a filling operation, a distal tip of the capacitive sensoris positioned proximate a top of the container and the capacitive sensoris operable (A) to sense, through the container, when the flowableproduct reaches a predetermined fill level within the container, and (B)to generate a signal in response to the sensing of the flowable productreaching the predetermined fill level within the container, (C) whereinthe predetermined fill level corresponds to the threshold of thecapacitive sensor's range for first sensing the flowable product withinthe container, (D) wherein the sensor is disposed outside the containerand does not physically contact the flowable product during the fillingoperation, and (E) wherein the positioning of the distal tip of thecapacitive sensor is adjustable prior to the filling operation, wherebydifferent predetermined fill levels within a container can be selected,and whereby different container configurations can be filled to apredetermined fill level at the filling station, by adjusting thepositioning of the distal tip of the capacitive sensor; and (e) acontroller operably coupled to each respective capacitive sensor at thefilling stations, wherein the controller is configured to independentlyoperate the fill valve at each respective filling station in response toreceiving the generated signal from the capacitive sensor at suchfilling station so as to close the fill valve and stop flow of theflowable product into a container at such filling station.
 19. A methodfor filling containers of a particular size and configuration with aflowable product, comprising the steps of: (a) causing a flowableproduct to flow from a product supply to a manifold; (b) causing theflowable product to separately flow from the manifold to each of aplurality of filling stations and, at each filling station, (i) causing,during a filling operation, the flowable product to flow through a fillvalve assembly into a container located at the filling station beneaththe fill valve assembly, and (ii) using a capacitive sensor mounted in apreselected position and configured such that, during a fillingoperation, the capacitive sensor is positioned proximate a top of thecontainer, sensing through the container when the flowable productreaches a predetermined fill level within the container, and generatinga signal in response to the sensing of the flowable product reaching thepredetermined fill level within the container, wherein the predeterminedfill level corresponds to the threshold of the capacitive sensor's rangefor first sensing the flowable product within the container, and whereinthe sensor is disposed outside the container and does not physicallycontact the flowable product during the filling operation; and (c) usinga controller operably coupled to each respective capacitive sensor atthe filling stations and configured to independently operate the fillvalve assembly at each respective filling station, stopping flow of theflowable product into the container at each filling station in responseto receiving a generated signal from the capacitive sensor at suchfilling station; (d) wherein the method further comprises a preliminarystep of adjusting the capacitive sensor at each filling station based onthe predetermined fill level at which the containers of the particularsize and configuration are to be filled.
 20. The method of claim 19 forfilling containers of a particular size and configuration with aflowable product, wherein the preliminary step comprises calibratingfilling at a filling station by positioning the capacitive sensorrelative to one of the containers at the filling station that has beenfilled to the predetermined fill level with the flowable product. 21.The method of claim 19 for filling containers of a particular size andconfiguration with a flowable product, wherein the flowable productcomprises an abrasive.
 22. The method of claim 19 for filling containersof a particular size and configuration with a flowable product, whereinthe flowable product comprises a gel containing abrasives.
 23. Themethod of claim 19 for filling containers of a particular size andconfiguration with a flowable product, wherein the flowable productcomprises a hand soap containing pumice.
 24. The method of claim 19 forfilling containers of a particular size and configuration with aflowable product, wherein at each filling station the capacitive sensoris positioned above the top of the container during a filling operation.25. The method of claim 19 for filling containers of a particular sizeand configuration with a flowable product, wherein at each fillingstation the capacitive sensor is positioned above a shoulder of thecontainer, but below a mouth of the container, during a fillingoperation.
 26. The method of claim 19 for filling containers of aparticular size and configuration with a flowable product, wherein ateach filling station the capacitive sensor is positioned proximate ashoulder of the container during a filling operation.
 27. A method forfilling containers of a particular size and configuration with aflowable product, comprising the steps of: (a) causing a flowableproduct to flow from a product supply to each of a plurality of fillingstations and, at each filling station, (i) causing, during a fillingoperation, the flowable product to flow through a fill valve assemblyinto a container located at the filling station beneath the fill valveassembly, and (ii) using a capacitive sensor mounted in a preselectedposition and configured such that, during a filling operation, thecapacitive sensor is positioned proximate a top of the container,sensing through the container when the flowable product reaches apredetermined fill level within the container, and generating a signalin response to the sensing of the flowable product reaching thepredetermined fill level within the container, wherein the predeterminedfill level corresponds to the threshold of the capacitive sensor's rangefor first sensing the flowable product within the container; and (b)using a controller operably coupled to each respective capacitive sensorat the filling stations and configured to independently operate the fillvalve assembly at each respective filling station, stopping flow of theflowable product into the container at each filling station in responseto receiving a generated signal from the capacitive sensor at suchfilling station; (c) wherein the method further comprises a preliminarystep of calibrating filling at each filling station by positioning, ateach filling station, the capacitive sensor relative to a container ofthe particular size and configuration to be filled which container hasbeen filled to the predetermined fill level, the positioning ofcapacitive sensor comprising adjusting the mounting of the capacitivesensor to the threshold at which the capacitive sensor first senses theflowable product within the container at the predetermined fill level.28. The method of claim 27 for filling containers of a particular sizeand configuration with a flowable product, wherein at each fillingstation the capacitive sensor is elongate and includes a distal tipdirected toward a container being filled during a filling operation. 29.The method of claim 28 for filling containers of a particular size andconfiguration with a flowable product, wherein at each filling stationthe distal tip of the capacitive sensor is positioned above the top ofthe container during a filling operation.
 30. The method of claim 28 forfilling containers of a particular size and configuration with aflowable product, wherein at each filling station the distal tip of thecapacitive sensor is positioned above a shoulder of the container, butbelow a mouth of the container, during a filling operation.
 31. Themethod of claim 28 for filling containers of a particular size andconfiguration with a flowable product, wherein at each filling stationthe distal tip of the capacitive sensor is positioned proximate ashoulder of the container during a filling operation.
 32. A method forfilling first and second groups of containers with a flowable product,each container of the first group being of a particular size andconfiguration, and each container of the second group being of adifferent particular size and configuration, the method comprising thesteps of: (I) for the first group of containers, (a) causing theflowable product to flow from a product supply to a manifold; (b)causing the flowable product to separately flow from the manifold toeach of a plurality of filling stations and, at each filling station,(i) causing, during a filling operation, the flowable product to flowthrough a fill valve assembly into a container of the first grouplocated at the filling station beneath the fill valve assembly, and (ii)using a capacitive sensor mounted in a first preselected position andconfigured such that, during a filling operation, the capacitive sensoris positioned proximate a top of the container, sensing through thecontainer of the first group when the flowable product reaches apredetermined fill level within the container of the first group, andgenerating a signal in response to the sensing of the flowable productreaching the predetermined fill level within the container of the firstgroup, wherein the predetermined fill level corresponds to the thresholdof the capacitive sensor's range for sensing the flowable product withinthe container of the first group; and (c) using a controller operablycoupled to each respective capacitive sensor at the filling stations andconfigured to independently operate the fill valve assembly at eachrespective filling station, stopping flow of the flowable product intothe container of the first group at each filling station in response toreceiving a generated signal from the capacitive sensor at such fillingstation; (d) wherein the method further comprises a preliminary step ofcalibrating filling at each filling station by positioning, at eachfilling station, the capacitive sensor relative to a container of theparticular size and configuration of the first group which container hasbeen filled to the predetermined fill level, the positioning of thecapacitive sensor comprising adjusting the mounting of the capacitivesensor to the threshold at which the capacitive sensor will first senseflowable product at the predetermined fill level within the container ofthe particular size and configuration of the first group; and (II) forthe second group of containers, and after filling of the first group,(a) recalibrating filling at each filling station for the second groupof containers by repositioning, at each filling station, the capacitivesensor relative to a container of the particular size and configurationof the second group which container has been filled to the predeterminedfill level, the positioning of the capacitive sensor comprisingadjusting the mounting of the capacitive sensor to the threshold atwhich the capacitive sensor will first sense flowable product at thepredetermined fill level within the container of the particular size andconfiguration of the second group; (b) causing the flowable product toflow from the product supply to the manifold; (c) causing the flowableproduct to separately flow from the manifold to each of the plurality offilling stations and, at each filling station, (i) causing, during afilling operation, the flowable product to flow through the fill valveassembly into a container of the second group that is located at thefilling station beneath the fill valve assembly, and (ii) using thecapacitive sensor mounted in a second, different preselected positionand configured such that, during a filling operation, the capacitivesensor is positioned proximate a top of the container of the secondgroup, sensing through the container of the second group when theflowable product reaches a predetermined fill level within the containerof the second group, and generating a signal in response to the sensingof the flowable product reaching the predetermined fill level within thecontainer of the second group, wherein the predetermined fill levelcorresponds to the threshold of the capacitive sensor's range forsensing the flowable product within the container of the second group;and (d) using the controller, stopping flow of the flowable product intothe container of the second group at each filling station in response toreceiving a generated signal from the capacitive sensor at such fillingstation.